Senior Level Lead Forward Deployed Engineer Jobs
Senior level lead forward deployed engineer jobs place experienced engineers in ownership roles where they set technical direction, guide cross-functional deployments, and are accountable for outcomes across complex customer environments. Openings concentrate in Technology & Software, Artificial Intelligence, and Accounting & Auditing, with a strong mix of on-site and remote positions available, and employers like Databricks, Snorkel AI, and OpenAI hiring at this level now.
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Showing 5 of 76+ Senior Level Lead Forward Deployed Engineer jobs
Job description
Location: Anywhere in Country
At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.
We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.
The opportunity
Our AI, Data & Engineering team helps apply cutting edge technology and techniques to bring solutions to our clients. As part of that, you'll sit side-by-side with clients and diverse teams from EY to create a well-rounded approach to advising and solving challenging problems, some of which have not been solved before. No two days will be the same, and with constant research and development, you'll find yourself building knowledge that can be applied across a wide range of projects now, and in the future. You'll need to have a passion for continuous learning, stay ahead of the trends, and influence new ways of working so you can position solutions in the most relevant and innovative way for our clients. You can expect heavy client interaction in a fast-paced environment and the opportunity to develop your own career path for your unique skills and ambitions.
In this role, you will work directly with clients to diagnose business and process problems, identify high-value AI opportunities, and research, build, and implement scalable AI, machine learning, generative AI, and agentic systems that learn, reason, and generate outputs tailored to business requirements across various environments, including cloud and on-premises. You will enhance data pipelines and storage, ensuring data is clean, accurate, and optimized for XOps processes. Additionally, you will monitor and evaluate learning processes to continuously improve high-performance models, owning delivery through production and collaborating with other data and analytics professionals to industrialize analysis into effective analytics solutions.
Your key responsibilities
As a Forward Deployed Engineer Manager, you will serve as a forward-deployed technical leader who shapes and delivers innovative solutions that drive business success. You will work with a wide variety of clients to deliver modern AI engineering, machine learning, and generative AI technologies. Your teams will design and build scalable solutions that unify, enrich, and derive insights from varied data sources across a broad technology landscape. You will help our clients navigate the complex world of modern data science, analytics, and software engineering. We'll look to you to lead client discovery and solutioning, provide guidance and remain hands-on in technical development to ensure AI solutions are responsibly engineered, evaluated, deployed, and maintained to support the ongoing business needs of our clients. You will be joining a dynamic and interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers who love to tackle the most challenging computational problems for our clients. We love to think creatively, build applications efficiently, and collaborate in both the ideation of solutions and the pursuit and expansion of new opportunities. Many on our team have advanced academic degrees or equivalent experience in industry.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading client-embedded AI workstreams from opportunity identification and process diagnosis through solution design, production deployment, value measurement, and ongoing optimization.
- Redesigning client processes for human-AI collaboration and continuously improving delivery by identifying innovative solutions through research, rapid prototyping, and analysis.
- Managing lean, multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex AI engineering initiatives, while remaining close to architecture and build decisions and maintaining accountability for quality, responsible deployment, economics, and results.
- Building trust with business and technology stakeholders, participating in daily client working sessions, and leading product and agile delivery from planning through execution and closure.
- Demonstrating realized value, identifying adjacent use cases and opportunities for additional specialists or services, supporting solution demonstrations and proposals, and managing engagement economics.
- Defining solution architecture and guiding hands-on development of agentic workflows, orchestration logic, memory, retrieval, reusable components, APIs, MCP connectors, and agent-to-agent integrations.
- Establishing evaluations, observability, control-plane governance, access controls, and risk mitigations for secure and responsible operation of AI and agentic systems.
- Using and coaching teams on AI-native development tools such as Claude, Codex, Cursor, and GitHub to increase delivery speed without compromising engineering quality.
Skills and attributes for success
To excel in this role, you will need a blend of deep engineering expertise, client leadership, solutioning, product delivery, commercial judgment, and strong interpersonal skills. This role will work to deliver tech at speed, innovate at scale, and put humans at the center. Provide technical guidance and share knowledge with team members with diverse skills and backgrounds. Consistently deliver quality client services focusing on more complex, judgmental and/or specialized issues surrounding emerging technology. Demonstrate technical capabilities and professional knowledge. Learn about EY and its service lines and actively assess and present ways to apply knowledge and services
The following attributes will make a significant impact:
- Proven ability to develop solutions to complex problems and recommend changes to policies and procedures.
- Strong judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining results.
- Experience in independently leading client relationships, translating ambiguous needs into technical decisions, and delivering high-quality outcomes.
- Ability to lead teams effectively and manage change within the organization.
To qualify for the role, you must have:
- A Bachelor’s degree required (4-year degree).
- 6-10 years of relevant experience of full-time working experience in AI, Data Science, and/or Machine Learning
- 2-4 years of experience directly managing technical teams
- Strong skills in Python
- Ability lead, collaborate, and communicate effectively with diverse, hybrid and global teams
- Experience identifying, solutioning, designing, building, deploying, operating, and expanding high-impact, high-value production AI/ML solutions on a major cloud platform
- Proficient in foundation models, generative AI, and agentic AI frameworks (e.g., OpenAI, Dall-e, Langchain, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)) and experienced with ML packages like scikit-learn and PyTorch
- Experience with natural language processing and deep learning
- Extensive experience in AI-assisted and DevOps tools (Claude, Codex, Cursor, GitHub, Azure DevOps), Agile methodologies (Jira), and CI/CD pipelines for developing, deploying, and scaling analytical solutions
- Experience with MLOps, LLMOps, and AgentOps and ML workflows, including data ingestion, transformation, and evaluation
- Experience with model retraining and feedback loop methodologies
- Experience with model and solution evaluation, observability, monitoring, and reporting
- Understanding of data structures, data modeling, software engineering, and Responsible AI practices
- Strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, and operations research, with proficiency in data manipulation tools (SQL, Pandas, Spark) and deep learning techniques
- Excellent communication skills for conveying findings and recommendations, with a willingness to travel for client engagements
- Skills in Technical Design Optimization
- Strong relationship-building skills
- Demonstrated client trust and value
- Digital fluency and emotional agility
- Commercial acumen and negotiation skills
- Proven ability to lead teams and manage change
Ideally, you’ll also have:
- A deep understanding of and ability to teach concepts, tools, features, functions, and benefits of different approaches to apply them
- Master's degree Computer Science, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, or other quantitative field
- Experience working with diverse teams to deliver complex solutions
- Strong skills in languages beyond Python: R, JavaScript, Java, C++, C
- Experience fine-tuning Generative AI models
- Experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders
- A strong understanding of industry trends and emerging technologies
- Skills in data visualization and storytelling with data
- Experience with image processing techniques and/or speech and audio processing and analysis
What we look for
We seek individuals who are not only technically proficient but also possess the ability to think critically and creatively. Top performers demonstrate a commitment to excellence, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for driving innovation in the field of AI and data science. Your ability to collaborate effectively and communicate with clarity will set you apart as a leader in our team.
#FY27NATAIDE
What we offer you
At EY, we harness our collective strength to empower you to shape your future with confidence through professional growth, personal fulfillment and an inclusive culture. Learn more at ey.com/us/careers.
- The salary range for this job is:
- New York City, Boston, and Washington DC Metro Areas, Washington State, and Southern California offices – $150,700 to $251,200
- Bay Area California offices – $157,100 to $261,600
- All other offices locations in the US, including Sacramento – $125,500 to $230,200
- Individual salaries within these ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.
- To make the most of your application experience, please limit yourself to two applications within a six-month period.
- EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis.
- For those living in California, please click here for additional information.
- At EY, our values set the foundation for how we work and the behaviors we expect of our people. Any misrepresentation or falsification of information or lack of integrity at any point in the recruiting process may result in withdrawal of your candidacy, revocation of an offer or immediate termination of employment.
EY | Building a better working world
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.
Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.
EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.
All in to shape the future with confidence.
EY provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable law.
EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1-800-EY-HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at ssc.customersupport@ey.com.
Job description
Location: Anywhere in Country
At EY, we’re all in to shape your future with confidence.
We’ll help you succeed in a globally connected powerhouse of diverse teams and take your career wherever you want it to go. Join EY and help to build a better working world.
The opportunity
Our AI, Data & Engineering team helps apply cutting edge technology and techniques to bring solutions to our clients. As part of that, you'll sit side-by-side with clients and diverse teams from EY to create a well-rounded approach to advising and solving challenging problems, some of which have not been solved before. No two days will be the same, and with constant research and development, you'll find yourself building knowledge that can be applied across a wide range of projects now, and in the future. You'll need to have a passion for continuous learning, stay ahead of the trends, and influence new ways of working so you can position solutions in the most relevant and innovative way for our clients. You can expect heavy client interaction in a fast-paced environment and the opportunity to develop your own career path for your unique skills and ambitions.
In this role, you will work directly with clients to diagnose business and process problems, identify high-value AI opportunities, and research, build, and implement scalable AI, machine learning, generative AI, and agentic systems that learn, reason, and generate outputs tailored to business requirements across various environments, including cloud and on-premises. You will enhance data pipelines and storage, ensuring data is clean, accurate, and optimized for XOps processes. Additionally, you will monitor and evaluate learning processes to continuously improve high-performance models, owning delivery through production and collaborating with other data and analytics professionals to industrialize analysis into effective analytics solutions.
Your key responsibilities
As a Forward Deployed Engineer Manager, you will serve as a forward-deployed technical leader who shapes and delivers innovative solutions that drive business success. You will work with a wide variety of clients to deliver modern AI engineering, machine learning, and generative AI technologies. Your teams will design and build scalable solutions that unify, enrich, and derive insights from varied data sources across a broad technology landscape. You will help our clients navigate the complex world of modern data science, analytics, and software engineering. We'll look to you to lead client discovery and solutioning, provide guidance and remain hands-on in technical development to ensure AI solutions are responsibly engineered, evaluated, deployed, and maintained to support the ongoing business needs of our clients. You will be joining a dynamic and interdisciplinary team of scientists and engineers who love to tackle the most challenging computational problems for our clients. We love to think creatively, build applications efficiently, and collaborate in both the ideation of solutions and the pursuit and expansion of new opportunities. Many on our team have advanced academic degrees or equivalent experience in industry.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading client-embedded AI workstreams from opportunity identification and process diagnosis through solution design, production deployment, value measurement, and ongoing optimization.
- Redesigning client processes for human-AI collaboration and continuously improving delivery by identifying innovative solutions through research, rapid prototyping, and analysis.
- Managing lean, multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex AI engineering initiatives, while remaining close to architecture and build decisions and maintaining accountability for quality, responsible deployment, economics, and results.
- Building trust with business and technology stakeholders, participating in daily client working sessions, and leading product and agile delivery from planning through execution and closure.
- Demonstrating realized value, identifying adjacent use cases and opportunities for additional specialists or services, supporting solution demonstrations and proposals, and managing engagement economics.
- Defining solution architecture and guiding hands-on development of agentic workflows, orchestration logic, memory, retrieval, reusable components, APIs, MCP connectors, and agent-to-agent integrations.
- Establishing evaluations, observability, control-plane governance, access controls, and risk mitigations for secure and responsible operation of AI and agentic systems.
- Using and coaching teams on AI-native development tools such as Claude, Codex, Cursor, and GitHub to increase delivery speed without compromising engineering quality.
Skills and attributes for success
To excel in this role, you will need a blend of deep engineering expertise, client leadership, solutioning, product delivery, commercial judgment, and strong interpersonal skills. This role will work to deliver tech at speed, innovate at scale, and put humans at the center. Provide technical guidance and share knowledge with team members with diverse skills and backgrounds. Consistently deliver quality client services focusing on more complex, judgmental and/or specialized issues surrounding emerging technology. Demonstrate technical capabilities and professional knowledge. Learn about EY and its service lines and actively assess and present ways to apply knowledge and services
The following attributes will make a significant impact:
- Proven ability to develop solutions to complex problems and recommend changes to policies and procedures.
- Strong judgment in selecting methods and techniques for obtaining results.
- Experience in independently leading client relationships, translating ambiguous needs into technical decisions, and delivering high-quality outcomes.
- Ability to lead teams effectively and manage change within the organization.
To qualify for the role, you must have:
- A Bachelor’s degree required (4-year degree).
- 6-10 years of relevant experience of full-time working experience in AI, Data Science, and/or Machine Learning
- 2-4 years of experience directly managing technical teams
- Strong skills in Python
- Ability lead, collaborate, and communicate effectively with diverse, hybrid and global teams
- Experience identifying, solutioning, designing, building, deploying, operating, and expanding high-impact, high-value production AI/ML solutions on a major cloud platform
- Proficient in foundation models, generative AI, and agentic AI frameworks (e.g., OpenAI, Dall-e, Langchain, Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)) and experienced with ML packages like scikit-learn and PyTorch
- Experience with natural language processing and deep learning
- Extensive experience in AI-assisted and DevOps tools (Claude, Codex, Cursor, GitHub, Azure DevOps), Agile methodologies (Jira), and CI/CD pipelines for developing, deploying, and scaling analytical solutions
- Experience with MLOps, LLMOps, and AgentOps and ML workflows, including data ingestion, transformation, and evaluation
- Experience with model retraining and feedback loop methodologies
- Experience with model and solution evaluation, observability, monitoring, and reporting
- Understanding of data structures, data modeling, software engineering, and Responsible AI practices
- Strong foundation in mathematics, statistics, and operations research, with proficiency in data manipulation tools (SQL, Pandas, Spark) and deep learning techniques
- Excellent communication skills for conveying findings and recommendations, with a willingness to travel for client engagements
- Skills in Technical Design Optimization
- Strong relationship-building skills
- Demonstrated client trust and value
- Digital fluency and emotional agility
- Commercial acumen and negotiation skills
- Proven ability to lead teams and manage change
Ideally, you’ll also have:
- A deep understanding of and ability to teach concepts, tools, features, functions, and benefits of different approaches to apply them
- Master's degree Computer Science, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, or other quantitative field
- Experience working with diverse teams to deliver complex solutions
- Strong skills in languages beyond Python: R, JavaScript, Java, C++, C
- Experience fine-tuning Generative AI models
- Experience in managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders
- A strong understanding of industry trends and emerging technologies
- Skills in data visualization and storytelling with data
- Experience with image processing techniques and/or speech and audio processing and analysis
What we look for
We seek individuals who are not only technically proficient but also possess the ability to think critically and creatively. Top performers demonstrate a commitment to excellence, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for driving innovation in the field of AI and data science. Your ability to collaborate effectively and communicate with clarity will set you apart as a leader in our team.
#FY27NATAIDE
What we offer you
At EY, we harness our collective strength to empower you to shape your future with confidence through professional growth, personal fulfillment and an inclusive culture. Learn more at ey.com/us/careers.
- The salary range for this job is:
- New York City, Boston, and Washington DC Metro Areas, Washington State, and Southern California offices – $150,700 to $251,200
- Bay Area California offices – $157,100 to $261,600
- All other offices locations in the US, including Sacramento – $125,500 to $230,200
- Individual salaries within these ranges are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, skills and geography. In addition, our Total Rewards package includes medical and dental coverage, pension and 401(k) plans, and a wide range of paid time off options.
Are you ready to shape your future with confidence? Apply today.
- To make the most of your application experience, please limit yourself to two applications within a six-month period.
- EY accepts applications for this position on an on-going basis.
- For those living in California, please click here for additional information.
- At EY, our values set the foundation for how we work and the behaviors we expect of our people. Any misrepresentation or falsification of information or lack of integrity at any point in the recruiting process may result in withdrawal of your candidacy, revocation of an offer or immediate termination of employment.
EY | Building a better working world
EY is building a better working world by creating new value for clients, people, society and the planet, while building trust in capital markets.
Enabled by data, AI and advanced technology, EY teams help clients shape the future with confidence and develop answers for the most pressing issues of today and tomorrow.
EY teams work across a full spectrum of services in assurance, consulting, tax, strategy and transactions. Fueled by sector insights, a globally connected, multi-disciplinary network and diverse ecosystem partners, EY teams can provide services in more than 150 countries and territories.
All in to shape the future with confidence.
EY provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, pregnancy, genetic information, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or any other legally protected basis, including arrest and conviction records, in accordance with applicable law.
EY is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities including veterans with disabilities. If you have a disability and either need assistance applying online or need to request an accommodation during any part of the application process, please call 1-800-EY-HELP3, select Option 2 for candidate related inquiries, then select Option 1 for candidate queries and finally select Option 2 for candidates with an inquiry which will route you to EY’s Talent Shared Services Team (TSS) or email the TSS at ssc.customersupport@ey.com.
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Find JobsSenior Level Lead Forward Deployed Engineer Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Databricks33
- Snorkel AI6
- OpenAI3
- EY2
- Google2
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software65
- Artificial Intelligence3
- Accounting & Auditing2
- Staffing & Recruiting2
- Electronics & Hardware2
Senior Level Lead Forward Deployed Engineer Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a senior level lead forward deployed engineer job?
Employers hiring at this level look for engineers who have owned end-to-end deployments, not just contributed to them. Demonstrating that you have driven technical decisions, resolved escalations independently, and mentored junior engineers gives you a clear edge. A portfolio of complex customer implementations and evidence of cross-functional leadership, such as aligning product, engineering, and customer success teams, strengthens your candidacy significantly.
Which companies hire senior level lead forward deployed engineers?
Companies hiring senior level lead forward deployed engineers right now include Databricks, Snorkel AI, and OpenAI, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Hiring at this level tends to concentrate among enterprise software companies, infrastructure platforms, and high-growth technology firms that rely on deep technical field presence to retain and expand large accounts.
Are there remote senior level lead forward deployed engineer jobs?
Yes, though many roles require periodic on-site presence at customer locations given the hands-on nature of the work. About 27% of senior level lead forward deployed engineer openings are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting employer flexibility for engineers who can manage deployments and customer relationships without being permanently on-site.
What makes a lead forward deployed engineer role senior level?
Senior level roles are defined by scope and accountability rather than task execution. A senior lead forward deployed engineer owns the full deployment lifecycle, makes independent technical decisions under ambiguity, represents the engineering organization directly with enterprise customers, and mentors less experienced engineers on the team. The expectation is that you operate without close supervision and shape how the team delivers.
Which industries hire the most senior level lead forward deployed engineers?
Senior Level lead forward deployed engineer roles concentrate in Technology & Software, Artificial Intelligence, and Accounting & Auditing, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. These sectors drive hiring at this level because they deploy complex, mission-critical software to large enterprise customers who require a technically deep field presence to ensure successful adoption and ongoing performance.